Posts Tagged ‘stretch’

Studies indicate that yoga combats common ailments of modern man such as depression, osteoarthritis, and stress. By fighting off these diseases, we have a better chance of recovering from intense workouts and illness.

The practice of yoga involves the union of the mind, body, and spirit. It is a combination of breathing, flowing movements, stretching, endurance, balance, and even strength training. Most of the commercial yoga you find in western culture tends to prioritize the physical benefits, although the best instructors will teach you how to maximize the mental and spiritual benefits as well.

My favorite yoga forms are those that stretch my back, legs, and abs; as well as those that help to strengthen my legs and improve unilateral balance. Any weight lifter knows how tight the shoulders and hips can get, and yoga is a huge flexibility tool.

Yoga’s benefits were realized by many eastern civilizations hundreds and even thousands of years ago. The hardest part is knowing which style of yoga to choose, so here are 7 common forms of yoga. Choose the one that best fits your lifestyle, or try them all.(more…)

Should Bodybuilders Use Static Stretching Before a Workout?

It’s such a simple component of your workout routine that you may not even think about it. You might just automatically hit the mats before you train, to stretch every muscle group for 20 seconds. If you haven’t been reading Project Swole or other popular fitness blogs in the last 5 years, you might even think this practice is good for you. Think again.

If you have been reading fitness blogs, websites, magazines, or keeping up to date on regular fitness news, you would know by now that this myth has been debunked. It has been decided with 100% assurance whether you should or shouldn’t stretch before weight lifting. So what is the final answer?